Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 221
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak/ESC
begins to limit wheel spin, cruise
control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically
when the vehicle is started and begins
to move. The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This is
normal and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to
turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0196 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to indicate
that the system is inactive and is not
assisting the driver in maintaining
control. The vehicle is safe to drive,
but driving should be adjusted
accordingly. If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If
dcomes on and stays on, the
vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
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282 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Forward Automatic Braking
System (FAB)
. Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
. Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert
(LCA), the LCA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), use caution while
backing up when towing a trailer, as
the RCTA detection zones that extend
out from the back of the vehicle do
not move further back when a trailer
is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death
from carbon monoxide (CO), when
towing a trailer: (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Do not drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air. See
“Climate Control Systems” in
the Index.
For more information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust
0 209.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as responsive
as the vehicle itself. Get used to the
handling and braking of the
combination by driving on a level road
surface before driving on public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires, and the
brakes must be all be rated to carry
the intended cargo. Inadequate trailer equipment can cause the combination
to operate in an unexpected or unsafe
manner. Before driving, inspect all
trailer hitch parts and attachments,
safety chains, electrical connectors,
lamps, tires, and mirrors. See
Towing
Equipment 0286. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the combination
moving and then manually apply the
trailer brake controller to check the
trailer brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo and
trailer are secure and that the lamps
and any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused by
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and sudden
turns.
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284 DRIVING AND OPERATING
3. When the wheel chocks are inplace, release the regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal. .Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0383. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and
during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling when Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See
Engine Overheating
0 312.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Trailer Weight
{Warning
Never exceed the towing capacity
for your vehicle.
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, dimensions of
the front of the trailer, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to tow a
trailer.
{Warning
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed if the trailer is too
heavy or the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load. The vehicle
may be damaged, and the repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Only tow a trailer if all the steps in
this section have been followed. Ask
your dealer for advice and
information about towing a trailer.
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286 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Always use the correct hitch
equipment for your vehicle.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and
rough roads can affect the trailer and
the hitch.
Never attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches. Only use
frame-mounted hitches that do not
attach to the bumper.
Always seal any holes in your vehicle
if the trailer hitch removed. If not
sealed, dirt, water, and carbon
monoxide (CO) from the exhaust may
enter your vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust
0 209.
Tires
.
Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the vehicle.
. Tires must be properly inflated to
support loads while towing a
trailer. See Tires0339 for
instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer, and attach the
chains to the holes on the trailer hitch
platform. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer to help prevent
the tongue from contacting the road if
it becomes separated from the hitch.
Always leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking
system if the loaded weight of the
trailer exceeds certain minimums that
can vary from state to state. Read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed, adjusted,
and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic brake system. If you do, both the vehicle anti-lock brakes and
the trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing lanes,
or stopping. When towing a trailer,
the arrows on the instrument cluster
will illuminate even if the trailer is not
properly connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ from
vehicle tires. Trailer tires are designed
with stiff sidewalls to help prevent
sway and to support heavy loads.
These features can make it difficult to
determine if the trailer tire pressures
are low only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire pressures
before each trip when the tires are
cool. Low trailer tire pressure is a
leading cause of trailer tire blow-outs.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 287
Trailer tires deteriorate over time. The
trailer tire sidewall will show the week
and year the tire was manufactured.
Many trailer tire manufacturers
recommend replacing tires more than
six years old.
Overloading is another leading cause
of trailer tire blow-outs. Never load
your trailer with more weight than the
tires are designed to support. The load
rating is located on the trailer tire
sidewall.
Always know the maximum speed
rating for the trailer tires before
driving. This may be significantly
lower than the vehicle tire speed
rating. The speed rating may be on
the trailer tire sidewall. If the speed
rating is not shown, the default trailer
tire speed rating is 105 km/h
(65 mph).Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0139.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see Servicing
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 094 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 094.
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288 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 304
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 304
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315 Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 316
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 319
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 319
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 322
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 322
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 330
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 341 Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 348
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 357
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
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VEHICLE CARE 291
If equipped with remote vehicle start,
open the hood before performing any
service work to prevent remote
starting the vehicle accidentally. See
Remote Vehicle Start036.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0395.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage to
vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
Gas struts and other metal
components under the hood can get
hot after running the engine. Do
not touch these components as
they can burn unprotected skin and
could cause serious injury. Clear any snow from the hood before
opening.
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle. It is
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel between the
door and the steering wheel.
2. Release the handle, then pull the handle again to fully open
the hood.
3. Go to the front of the vehicle and lift the hood open.
Caution
Be sure the hood is completely
closed before driving. Damage may
occur if it is not.
To close the hood: 1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are properly
installed.
2. Lower the hood approximately 46 cm (18 in) from the closed
position.
3. Then push the front center of the hood with a swift, firm motion.
4. Check to make sure the hood is closed. If not, release the hood
from inside and repeat Steps 1–3.
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1. Passenger Side EngineCompartment Fuse Block. See
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0323.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 307.
3. Passenger Side Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter 0304.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 299.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0299.
6. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0307.
7. Driver Side Engine Air Cleaner/ Filter. See Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter 0304.
8. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0367.
9. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0315. 10. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 313.
11. Driver Side Engine Compartment Fuse Block. See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block 0323.
12. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0367.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
. Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” later in
this section. .
Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0302.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0292 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.